Audi Q5 Hybrid

Audi decided to introduce a hybrid crossover, and for that they couldn’t find a better candidate than the Q5.

The Audi Q5 hybrid will make its debut at the Los Angeles motorshow next week and wastes no time to hit the showrooms as it’s planned to launch in early 2011.

The car’s got a hybrid system including a 2.0 TFSI and an electric motor developing a combined power of 180 kW (245 hp) and 480 Nm (354.03 lb-ft). Estimated fuel consumption for this system on the combined cycle is less than 7.0 liters per 100 km (33.60 US mpg).

Not exactly mind-blowing, but considering the fact that it delivers the power a V6 with frugality of a four-cylinder diesel, acceptable.

The good news is, the Q5 hybrid does not compromise on performance as it does 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds and has a top speed of 222 km/h, which are good figures for a crossover. Part of this performance and economy is due to the largely modified eight-speed tiptronic that serves the power transmission without the aid of a torque converter.